Florence Museums

Florence, at the heart of the Italian Rennaisance, might seem like an open air museum to most visitors. The piazzas and buildings themselves are a testament of the history of architecture and of past eras. Florence's cathedral, churches and many palaces were designed, built and decorated by many of the most illustrious of artists of the time, from Brunelleschi to Michelangelo, and can be admired freely from the outside. But in order to see another side of Florence, the side the contains most of its treasures, you need to go indoors and visit at least one or two museums while you are here. There you will find the paintings, sculptures and frescoes imagined and created by the greatest minds of all time.

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Florence is already an open-air museum, but there are also museums that offer children of all ages the chance to enjoy a bit of art and culture, with activities appropriate to their age. Here are 5 family-friendly museums we suggest you add to your itinerary when visiting Florence with your kids.

The decorative marble facade of Tuscany's most important Gothic church incorporates billowing sails and ostrich feathers (emblem of the Medici). The church houses immense artistic treasures, donated by wealthy patrons, many with chapels named after them.

One of the world's top art museums, the Uffizi Gallery houses some of the most important works of the Renaissance, including works by Leonardo da Vinci, Giotto, Botticelli and Michelangelo and a large collection of Greek and Roman sculptures.

The Accademia houses Michelangelo's David, easily the most famous sculpture in the world. Once inside, you'll also see Michelangelo's unfinished and powerful Prisoners, along with a few works by Perugino, Giambologna, and Botticelli.

The famous elevated passageway was built by Vasari in 1565 connecting Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio: how it is today, a short history and future plans for the Vasari Corridor that passes over the heads of unsuspecting visitors today.

An impressive collection comprising works by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, Pietro da Cortona and other Italian and European masters of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, plus the Royal Apartments, the magnificent rooms which were the home of the Medici and Lorraine families and, from 1865, of the king of Italy.

The Palazzo Davanzati is today a museum showcasing how a noble family in medieval times used to live in Florence. Some of the few surprising things to discover are the frescoed rooms, the indoor well that went all the way to the top floor and.... indoor toilets!

So you're visiting Florence on Monday - and you've just learned that the Uffizi and the Accademia are closed on Mondays! Don't despair, there are many other museums in Florence open on Mondays, here is a handy list with opening hours and costs (and keep in mind Uffizi and Accademia are open on Sundays).

Have limited time to visit the Uffizi? Here we propose an itinerary through the museum’s main rooms so you don’t miss any of the most important masterpieces by Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and more!

With fortress like castellations and a 311 foot high bell tower, Florence’s Palazzo Vecchio conveys the message of political power supported by military strength. A beautiful museum today, a must-see in Florence hiding extraordinary treasures!

Museums in Florence during the holidays will be open following their normal schedules except on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, with a few places open on the first day of the new year. Continue reading to find out what is open and when.

Visit the Villa and the beautiful Italian garden that surrounds the villa that used to be the home to the Medicis, the Lorraines and even the king of Italy. This gem is waiting to be discovered, as it off the beaten track and off many itineraries.

The museum, located a block off the Duomo, offers real-size reconstructions of some of Leonardo da Vinci's most impressive designs from his notebooks, including machines of war, machines of civil utility and flying machines in his search of making man take flight. A visit to this museum is a special occasion to journey back in time to learn more about the life and mind of the genius from Vinci.

Primarily a sculpture museum, you'll be treated to early Michelangelo marbles and Giambologna bronzes and Cellini works then on to a room full of famous works by Donatello, considered by many the greatest sculptor since antiquity. The museum houses more than sculpture, it is definitely a museum worth exploring!

The Pitti Palace houses important collections of paintings and sculpture, works of art, porcelain, silver and period costumes. The rooms contain works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio and many others. The beautiful Boboli Gardens, grand example of Italian Renaissance gardens, are on the hill behind the palace.

The Chapel of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli is why you should visit the majestic Palazzo Medici Riccardi on Via Cavour. It is a small, yet precious jewel that takes visitors back in time to the era of Florence's Rennaissance.